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Principal Structural Engineer

Location: Leeds
Location Leeds
Mergefield Title {Mergefield Value}
Mergefield Title {Mergefield Value}

This is a Permanent, Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

We are seeking an experienced and client‑focused Principal Structural Engineer to join our team in the Leeds office. You will lead projects, strengthen client relationships, and guide the growth of our structural engineering team. This senior role combines technical ability with leadership responsibility, performing   a project leading role, financial and resource management, design oversight, and   business development. You will work across a diverse portfolio that includes residential, healthcare, education—and play a pivotal role in the success and reputation of the team.

Key Responsibilities

Client Relationship Management & Business Development

  • Act as a primary point of contact for key clients, ensuring strong, trusted, and long‑lasting relationships.
  • Develop and maintain existing client accounts while identifying and pursuing new opportunities to support business growth.
  • Lead client engagement activities including bid preparation, proposal writing, fee proposals, and fee negotiations.
  • Represent the business at external meetings with clients, local authorities, and other stakeholders.

Project Leadership & Delivery

  • Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams, ensuring projects are delivered to time, quality, and financial targets.
  • Undertake and oversee structural investigations, surveys, defect diagnosis, and the preparation of technical reports and remedial strategies.
  • Oversee the production of structural calculations (Eurocodes), drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
  • Monitor construction sites, respond to technical queries, and ensure design intent and compliance are maintained.
  • Manage project profitability through planning, forecasting, cost control, invoicing, and scope management.

Leadership, Mentoring & Team Development

  • Provide mentoring, supervision, and daily support to junior and mid‑level engineers—shaping their capability and professional growth.
  • Carry out technical reviews to safeguard the quality, consistency, and safety of our engineering outputs.
  • Lead by example—driving technical excellence, promoting innovation, and supporting team members in delivering high‑quality work.
  • Build and coordinate internal and external resource teams as required to deliver complex projects.

Technical Expertise

  • Deliver technical oversight across structural materials including steel, concrete, timber, and masonry.
  • Apply robust engineering practices to assess building suitability for alterations, refurbishment, change‑of‑use, and new‑build design.
  • Provide clear, actionable advice on structural defects, remediation options, and risks.

Skills & Experience

  • Extensive structural design and investigation experience across core materials and UK building forms.
  • Proven track record in project leadership and client management.
  • Excellent communication skills—written, verbal, and interpersonal.
  • Chartered or near chartership status (MIStructE or MICE) is preferred.
  • Proficiency with structural design software (SCIA, Tekla, TEDDS, or similar).
  • UK driving licence.

Personal Attributes

  • Proactive, self‑motivated, and committed to delivering excellence.
  • Strong people‑management skills; able to coach, inspire, and upskill others.
  • Confident, personable, and capable of building rapport with diverse stakeholders.
  • Able to manage risk, anticipate challenges, and deliver innovative solutions.

Why This Role Matters

As Principal Structural Engineer, you shape the technical direction, commercial success, and cultural development of the team. You will influence high‑profile projects, ensure the delivery of outstanding engineering, and cultivate a strong, collaborative, and growth‑oriented team environment.

 

We are Ridge, a Built Environment Consultancy. We help our clients transform the quality and sustainability of the built environment.

Our 1,400+ people bring a vast range of skills, delivering a professional mindset, gritty discipline and a genuine passion to every one of the thousands of projects they undertake each year. They’re the foundation of our success - they drive our vision, embody our values and separate us from the competition.

Come and join us if you’re hungry to be part of an exceptional team - if you put quality first - if you’re motivated by ingenuity and if you’re always aspiring to be the very best.

  • Quality
  • THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR BUSINESS.

From concept to execution, our work is driven by passion, technical expertise and an uncompromising commitment to excellence - delivering solutions that stand the test of time. We don’t need - or want - to be the biggest. Just the best.

  • Ingenuity
  • AS STANDARD.

We question assumptions and look beyond the obvious - applying technical depth and creativity to solve problems that matter. We find better ways today, then improve on them tomorrow.

  • Partnership
  • BUILT ON TRUST. GROWN OVER TIME.

Since 1946, strong relationships have shaped everything we do. We listen, challenge with care, and stay with you for the long haul - turning shared goals into lasting impact.

  • Aspiration
  • THE FIRE IN OUR BELLY.

We start with a vision - then push the boundaries of what’s possible. With bold ideas and a clear view of the future, we turn ambitions into meaningful outcomes.

The benefits package we have put together for you supports every aspect of your life.

Annual
leave

A healthy holiday allowance that starts at 25 days pa, plus the option to buy, carry over or sell.

Community
spirit

You can take three volunteering days each year to spend time on causes close to your heart.

Mental
health

Mental Health First Aiders are here to support you, backed up by Unum’s Help@hand app.

Financial benefits

A path to peace of mind: life assurance, pension scheme and income protection.

Physical
wellbeing

Your health is a priority for us too, so we offer medical insurance, private GP access and discounted gym membership.

Flexible
working

Our flexible approach to hybrid working is there to suit you, your family and your team.

Career development

A pathway at Ridge that’s focused on your professional, personal or educational aspirations.

Extra
benefits

Performance bonus, car allowance and more based on your role - and progression.

We believe that everyone performs their best when they feel like they belong and can be their true selves at work. As an equal opportunities’ employer, we will support you to ensure you have everything you need to be successful and achieve your best in your career at Ridge. If you’d like to discuss accessibility, accommodations or adjustments during your application and selection process, please contact us at workwithus@ridge.co.uk and we will work with you to ensure you feel included and supported.

A polite note to Recruitment Agencies
We enjoy great relationships with our agency partners within our framework, and fully believe in the value of a blended approach to finding the best talent. However, we are recruiting for this role directly and aren’t seeking support from agency partners at this time – any unsolicited CV introductions won’t be honoured, and we won’t grant candidate ownerships on any introduction that you make for roles that haven’t been briefed and released to you by our Talent Acquisition team.

We are committed to nurturing strong partnerships within our agency framework, but there are occasions where we looking to enlist the help of others. If you would be interested in working with us in the future, please send a message to workwithus@ridge.co.uk, and we’ll reach out to you should there be an opportunity.

A polite note to recruitment agencies

We are recruiting for this role directly and aren’t seeking support from our agency partners. Any unsolicited CV introductions won’t be honoured, and we won’t grant candidate ownership on any introductions you make for roles that haven’t been briefed and released to you by our Talent Acquisition team.
If you are a recruitment agency who doesn’t currently work with Ridge but would like to, please send a message to workwithus@ridge.co.uk, and we’ll reach out to you should there be an opportunity.

We are recruiting for this role directly and aren’t seeking support from our agency partners. Any unsolicited CV introductions won’t be honoured, and we won’t grant candidate ownership on any introductions you make for roles that haven’t been briefed and released to you by our Talent Acquisition team.

If you are a recruitment agency who doesn’t currently work with Ridge but would like to, please send a message to workwithus@ridge.co.uk, and we’ll reach out to you should there be an opportunity.

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